The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-10-07
IN / he PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

OF alcohoi and other narcotic poisons
upon the human system The amount
of popular ignorance upon this subject
is frigbtful. While the terrible results
are acknowledged which follow the
drinking of what are known as '.hard''
drinks-distilled liquors, such as
whisky, brandy. gin, etc.-there is
popular belief that it is only from
drinking them to excess, and that in
more moderate quantities they are
comparatively harmless; while the
error is well-nigh universal that 'soft''
drinks-wine, beer, ale, etc. are not
only not injurious, but healthful and
nourishing.
There never was a greater. error.
No matter what form of rum is used
whether the drink be "hard'' or 'ssoft''
whether it be wine, or fermented
| cider, or beer--the reason it is
swallowed is because of the exhilarat-
ing effects which follow. These effects
are caused by the alcohol which they
contain. In cider and the various
wines, there are fruit acids, ETC., which
impart taste which is agreeable to
some; but all the same, alcohol is the
active agent, and were it removed en-
tlrely from these compounds, no one
would think of drinking the nauseous
Stops that would remain. Now, what
is this alcohol, whose subtitle influence
causes all spirituous, vinous or malt
liquors to be drank?
Alcoholis alimpid, colorless liquid, of
hot taste, which can only be obtained
by the fermentation of sugar or some
substance containing sugar. 1t is not
produced in nature. Neither the
grape, the apple, nor any other fruit;
neither rye, corn, barley, nor any 9TH
er grain, contains one atom of it. But
when the fruit-cells of the grape or the
apple are crushed and the juice ex-
tracted, a chemical process, called fer
mentation, sets up, whereby the sugar
in these juices is split up into alcohol
and carbonic acid, the latter escaping
as a gas. When barley, or rye or corn
is fermented, the starch which they
contain is first turned, by an analo-
gous process, into sugar, and then al
cohol is produced, by continuation
of the process, from the sugar.
In its effects upon the human sys-
tenn alcohol is narcotic poison. 1t is
nota food in any respect. 1t is indi-
gestible. Itcan not be built into bone
or tissue. The only thing the body
can do with alcohol is to get rid of it.
1t is largely thrown off by the lungs, as
any one can believe who has come with
in smelling distance of the drinker. It
passes through the skin, and works it's
way to every part of the body, and
portion of it passes to the brain, de-
ranging the action of that organ, and
producing a species of Insanity.
When the alcohol reaches the brain
of course it is closely shut in, and, as
it can not pass rapidly through the
skull it is more likely to remain in the
lr Tin than in any other part of the
body, and here it does it's most deadly
work.
The brain, when healthy, is so soft
that it would not retain its shape but
for the skull. The sharpest knife is
required to cut it without .mangling
its structure. 1t is necessary to i'm
merse the organ in alcohol for some
time in order to harden it, when a
careful examination is essential. A
| drunkards brain presents contrast.
1t lis already hardened, picked almost.
In the dissecting room it affords rare
pleasure to medical student to Sc
cure the dissected brain of an old.
TOPPER A celebrated anatomist said
that he could tell a drunkard's brain.
in the dark, by the sense of touch
alone. A London physician reported
case in which he found, upon MAX
ing a post-mortem examination, SO
strong an odor of alcohol emanating
from the brain that he applied a
match to it, when it burst into flame.
The quantity of alcohol in the brain is
sometimes so. great that it can be col
lected by distillation after death.
1t must not he supposed that every
drunkard's brain is as hard as a
picked one; but it may be fairly sup
posed that the hardening effect of al
cohol has no little influence in the pro-
duction of degeneration of the brain,
such as results in varions forms of
progressive paralysis. Numerous func-
tional disorders of the brain are also
traced to the habitual use of alcoholic
liquors. Locomotor ataxia, an almost
hopeless malady, involving the brain
and spinal cord, is very often the re-
suit of intemperance.
When alcohol is taken into the stom-
ach it is absorbed and goes unchanged
into the circulation. The heart, irri-
tated by its presence. beats faster, and
drives the blood more quickly through
the arteries. Every excretory organ
Immediately sets to work 70 expel it
from the system. The lungs and skin
have already been spoken of; and the
liver and kidneys are no less actively
engaged in getting rid of the internal
stuff. The effect on the liver is to pro-
duce, after considerable time, an in
durable Observation-Disclosures as it is
commonly known, ''hob-nail liver"
from the peculiar appearance of tina
organ after death. The kidneys are
weakened and inflamed, and Bright's
disease, an absolutely incurable all
ment, always fatal, is frequent result
of intemperance.
The above is the merest outline of
the physical effects of this pernicious
poison. It can not be too deeply i'm
pressed upon the minds of the rising
generation that. no matter what cause
may be alleged, nobody drinks wine,
or beer, or cider, or whisky. or any
other form of rum, for any real reason
save that it contains alcohol; that this
subtle liquid is poison, and nothing
but poison; that like any other poi
son IFS effects are DroDOrtiOned to the